Romance & Cigarettes 2005
Love and Cigarettes is a contemporary “working-class opera” and passionate comedy set in modern America. James Gandolfini stars as Nick Murder, a man on a journey of infidelity and the consequences of his actions. Nick, on the brink of a midlife crisis, falls in love with the fiery-haired Tula (Kate Winslet), causing his wife Kitty (Susan Sarandon) to reach her breaking point. As Kitty grapples with feelings of hatred and betrayal, Nick will come to understand the pain he has caused his family. Director John Turturro describes the film as an exciting, vibrant, and bold musical, where songs speak when words are not enough for the characters to express themselves. Love and Cigarettes combines David Mamet’s cutting-edge dialogue with the Coen brothers’ striking and unconventional visuals. The film, which was nominated for the Golden Lion at the 2005 Venice Film Festival, features executive producers JOEL and ETHAN COEN, who express their pride in being involved in the project. Turturro’s observation of himself as a street dancer and his sons Amedeo and Diego’s roles as unseen characters in the film add an intriguing layer to the movie. With a blend of modern and classical music tones, including works by renowned artists like James Brown, Nick Cave, and Bruce Springsteen, Love and Cigarettes is a fairy tale about sexuality and death.
